People: Irwin Mitchell; Fisher German; Entec Si

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced that commercial partner, Pete Maguire, has been appointed to head up its national manufacturing sector group.

Pete is based in the Birmingham office and joined Irwin Mitchell earlier this year from Wright Hassall where he co-led the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Sector Group.

He advises businesses, including manufacturers, with their commercial contracts, including drafting and negotiating contracts for both suppliers and end customers at all tiers of the manufacturing supply chain, together with logistics, outsourcing, and commercial agreements. In his new additional role, he’ll lead a multi-disciplinary team of commercial, real estate, ESG, employment, corporate, insolvency, regulatory and IP lawyers who all specialise in advising manufacturing businesses.

Fergal Dowling, managing partner of Irwin Mitchell’s Business Services Group, said: “Since joining Irwin Mitchell in May, Pete has made a significant impression with his expertise and dedication. His leadership is already proving to be an asset and I look forward to seeing Pete take his extensive knowledge and experience to further enhance our capabilities in the manufacturing sector.”

Pete Maguire added: “The UK manufacturing sector still faces significant challenges, including rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, and a skills gap.

“Irwin Mitchell works with a strong portfolio of manufacturing businesses and has a solid reputation in the sector. I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead and providing proactive advice to ensure our clients in the sector can flourish.

“The firm’s comprehensive approach to law, combined with a robust portfolio of services, provides a solid foundation for addressing the multifaceted needs of our clients.”

Two experienced property professionals have joined a leading consultancy’s Birmingham team as it continues to grow since opening in the city centre.

Max Fellows and Ellie Fletcher have joined Fisher German’s growing office on Colmore Row in its development and commercial agency teams respectively as the firm continues to add talented staff to its team.

Max, who previously worked for JLL in the city after graduating from Reading University, will work as a senior surveyor alongside Fisher German partner Arthur Morgan to take advantage of new development opportunities in the Midlands and bolstering its relationship with its existing clients.

And Ellie, who joins as a surveyor from Savills, will use her extensive experience in commercial agency and valuations to target the industrial and office sectors in the city.

Arthur Morgan, Partner at Fisher German, said: “With a new government now in place, housebuilding and possible planning reform is now high on the agenda.

“It’s a great time for Fisher German to be hiring someone with Max’s experience to help us take advantage of the new development opportunities in the region and help grow the company further.”

Mike Price, Head of Commercial Transactional at Fisher German, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Ellie into the commercial agency team at a very exciting time for the firm.

“She comes with a broad range of experience in commercial property, and we’re confident she will significantly enhance our commercial agency offering in the Midlands.”

Business change consultancy, Entec Si, has reinforced its specialist team after appointing a new consultant to power its busy work portfolio.

An experienced learning manager and business transformation consultant, Victoria Brownsell has joined the company to support the delivery of a host of new business wins across local government, higher education and the third sector.

Victoria brings experience working with big brands such as Rolex, Jaguar Land Rover and International Airlines Group to the business.

Hailing from a global consulting firm – a portfolio company of Goldman Sachs Assets Management and Everstone Capital Giants – Victoria helped to deliver 360-degree digital transformation projects and coordinated learning and development programmes for multinational companies.

This latest hire follows several promotions at Entec Si this year.

Eman Al-Hillawi, CEO of Entec Si, said: “Vicky is a gifted consultant and visual thinker. Her creativity and understanding of the inner workings of many sectors will prove invaluable as we motor forward with new clients. Our continued success is down to the hard graft of our people and Vicky’s strong work ethic is the perfect fit for our team.”

Victoria Brownsell, consultant at Entec Si, said: “My determination and zest for change management is grounded in developing long-term relationships with clients. I love getting to grips with their pain points and building that connection to break down and resolve their challenges. I also thrive on having a dedicated team around me, and there’s no doubt Entec Si has this in spades.”